Some years ago I had my dream job working at Barnes & Noble. I wasn’t a bookseller, I worked in the cafe–but I got all the benefits. A great discount, free stripped books, and a great lot of like-minded people to work with. Plus, being surrounded by shelves of books 40+ hours a week? Um, yes please.

I have many colorful stories from the time I worked there. Fascinating people I worked with. How many of us hailed from the same place (another state entirely). The odd customers, the good customers. That was where I worked when I had my son. It was literally the place I learned I was pregnant. I was with those people when Princess Diana died. I went out with them, they gave me my baby shower, and one of them was my labor coach.

Of all the stories I have to share, the oddest by far was the story of, well let’s call him Al. *

Admittedly, at first, I didn’t like Al much. He came in from out of nowhere and took my job from me. My manager, and good friend, was leaving the store and I was pushing to take her job as Cafe Manager. Al swooped in with his tales of culinary school, and being 10 years older than me, the store manager hired him on the spot for cafe manager.

So, clearly, I wasn’t too happy to meet him.

Over time he won me, and the whole staff, over. He was jovial, friendly, hilarious, and his wife was sweet and friendly. She worked down the street at Hollywood Video as their manager. The couple had two huge beasts of dogs that were slobbery-kisses sweet.

On weekends, week nights, whenever we closed together we’d all go out and hang out at one of the local restaurants/bars. Our most frequent haunt was the restaurant right next door, who would leave the bar open just for us booksellers.

Three months into his tenure as our manager, an odd thing happened.

He disappeared.

One day he didn’t show up for work. I, as assistant, was called in.

Two more days of me pulling double shifts later, a couple of police officers walked into the store and asked for the manager.

Turns out Al and his wife were far more interesting than we’d thought.

Skilled con artists with warrants in 12 states. In the three months she’d been at Hollywood Video, she’d embezzled almost $10,000.

We were all floored.

Shocked.

Stunned.

We thought we knew him. We’d hung out with them. We’d thought they were our friends.

And none of us ever saw him again.

To this day I don’t know if they were ever caught, or where they went to.

It was a huge eye-opener for me on how a person can truly deceive you.

I still try to be as trusting as possible, but this story has never truly left me.

And likely never will.

*Name has been changed due to my memory slipping in my old age…honestly don’t remember the guys name…